At the World Robot Conference in Beijing, project lead Dr. Zhang Qifeng announced that the scientific groundwork is solid, with efforts now focused on integrating the technology into a robot designed for interactive pregnancy, managing the entire gestation process from fertilization to full-term birth.

Building on advancements in ex-utero gestation, such as the 2017 US experiment sustaining premature lambs in “biobags” with artificial amniotic fluid and umbilical-like tubes for nutrient and oxygen delivery, Kaiwa’s robot aims to replicate and advance this concept. 

Unlike previous systems, the robot will autonomously handle the complete pregnancy cycle, offering a groundbreaking solution to human reproduction.

Dr. Zhang highlighted the project’s potential to address China’s growing infertility crisis, with the robot projected to cost around 100,000 yuan (£11,000)—a fraction of the cost of traditional human surrogacy. 

This innovation could provide an accessible alternative for those facing reproductive challenges, marking a significant leap in robotics and reproductive science.